For about an hour, the hearing went on without incident, as residents and police officers got up to speak in favor of or against the need for such a board.

"The alderman listened to their opinion and listened to our opinion. I thought the meeting was going really well," said Bishop Derrick Robinson, a Ferguson preacher and protest organizer who was at the meeting.

"Excuse me, first of all, you do not tell me my function," said Alderman Terry Kennedy, who was chairing the committee that called the hearing.

Things quickly got out of hand.

On Thursday morning, Roorda told CNN he wore the wristband because "I have a right to freedom of speech, expression, just as violent protesters in Ferguson, who attempted to kill and maim police every night."

"They were defended as exercising freedom of speech. ... I think I can wear a bracelet to a public meeting," Roorda said.

French acknowledged Roorda's rights but said his action did the opposite of trying to bring the community together.

"He showed it to the protesters in the front row. He tried to provoke a response. He succeeded," French said of Roorda.

Shoving, shouting

What triggered the scuffle depends on whom you ask.

One witness, Cachet Currie, told CNN affiliate KMOV that Roorda, in trying to get to Kennedy, "jumped out into the aisle and pushed me over."